Castle View Elementary Instrumental Music
About the Instructors/Admin
Ms. Burgess
Ms. Burgess, a native of Texas, has over 18 years of experience as a violinist. In her past 18 years, she has performed with various orchestras, taught group lessons, and has fiddled in several events in East Texas. She received her Bachelor of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University in December 2020, and moved to Colorado Springs in August of 2021. She is excited to be a teacher with our program and can't wait to meet all of her new students. When Ms. Burgess is not working, she enjoys baking and playing with her two Pomeranians.
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill
Ms. Davidson-Stanfill is a veteran teacher with an expertise in beginning instrumental instruction. She has been teaching for over 25 years in various combinations of subjects, always including beginning instrumental instruction. Ms. Davidson-Stanfill started this program, originally in the Rock Canyon feeder area in 2009, in response to District budget cuts and in response to many people requesting that a band and orchestra program continue. Her program grew to include the Castle View and Chaparral feeder areas in 2010, won the Macaroni Kids Best Music lessons Award in 2014, expanded to include the Ponderosa, ThunderRidge and Mountain Vista areas in 2014, and won the macaroni Kids Best Music Lesson Award in 2016 and again in 2019. This year, the program is expanding to include the Douglas County HS feeder area as well. She is excited to continue her collaboration with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra and to bring a quality program into the Castle View feeder area again this year. Keeping the opportunity to play an instrument available to our kids is her top priority.
d.davidsonstanfill@comcast.net
Mr. Furlow
Mr. Furlow, a native of Southern Illinois, began his career as Director of Bands in Vandalia, Illinois, after completing his Bachelor of Music Education Degree, with a Secondary Concentration in Music Theory/Composition, from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He has taught band and private studio music for over twenty years. Mr. Furlow is an accomplished pianist and low brass performer, primarily focusing on tuba and euphonium/baritone, performing regularly as the Principal Tubist with the Denver Concert Band and Aurora Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a seasoned educator, Mr. Furlow is a practicing composer for band, orchestra, piano, and chamber groups. He enjoys writing in classical and film music styles. When not teaching or performing, Mr. Furlow enjoys traveling (he has visited 35 States so far), motorcycles, playing with his Siberian Huskies, and watching movies. Mr. Furlow will be working with Band and Orchestra students at Larkspur Elementary.
Ms. Khalil
Ms. Khalil is a passionate violinist and teacher. She began her violin career at the age of 9! She was a member of the Kansas City Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 12. Ms. Khalil was awarded a full scholarship for the University of Kansas's Midwestern Music Camp for 4 consecutive years. In 2003, she became an active teacher of the Missouri String Project under the guidance of Mrs. Leslie Perna, where she was awarded the String Project Teaching Award, subsequently starting her own private teaching studio. In 2007, Ms. Khalil earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she studied with Eva D. Szekely. She has performed with the University of Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra, Missouri University Chamber Orchestra, and the Missouri All-Collegiate Orchestra.
In 2008, she began her Suzuki Violin Training at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, under the instruction of James Maurer and Kathleen Spring, where she received her Suzuki Violin Pedagogy Certificate for Books 1-8.
Ms. Khalil has taught as a violin and viola teacher for the Augustana Arts City Strings Program, as a violin quartet coach for the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, as a music instructor for the Cherry Creek Elementary Instrumental Music Program, and has performed with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Ms. Khalil believes every child has unique talents and the ability to learn and develop those talents when provided with the right tools, instruction, and a healthy supportive environment.
nasihak.musicpedagogy@gmail.com
Ms. Platt
Ms. Platt is an experience violinist, composer, and teacher based in Denver, Colorado. After discovering her passion for writing and playing music through a high school music theory course, she went on to study both violin and composition at Georgia State University. There she studied violin with Tania Maxwell-Clements, and composition with Dr. Robert Scott Thompson before graduating in 2020. As a composer, she combines minimalist textures and ideas with neo-romantic thematic material to create an impressionistic and programmatic style. As a teacher, Ms. Platt maintains a studio of both adults and children at all levels of proficiency. Ms. Platt's core principals of teaching are parental involvement, aural skills, and critical listening and interpretation. Additionally, Ms. Platt enjoys performing and volunteering for non-profit and community orchestras. She has performed with the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra, the Atlanta Musicians Orchestra, and the Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Tidaback
Mr. Tidaback has been performing and teaching music for over 30 years. Originally from a small farm town in Illinois, Doug studied Music Performance and Education from the University of Illinois, San Jose State University, Chapman University, and the University of Arizona. He has performed with the Monterey Symphony, The Temptations, The Supremes, Harry Connick Jr., Aretha Franklin, and many others. Mr. Tidaback founded school music programs at Bonny Doon School in California, Central Catholic Schools of Bloomington Illinois, and the Tucson Jazz Institute in Tucson, Arizona. Students from his award winning ensembles have gone on to study at Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale, Juilliard, Berklee, the Manhattan School of Music, Miami, USC, and other great universities. Mr. Tidaback recently moved to the Denver area to be close to family.
Ms. Walker
Ms. Walker has been an active participant in music since she picked up her first clarinet in 4th Grade 15 years ago. There hasn't been a year since that she hasn't participated in a concert band of some variety. She grew up here in Colorado, more specifically in Douglas County. She studied Music Education at Metropolitan State University in Denver, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree, and then dove head first into the industry as a long-term music substitute at Acres Green Elementary. She is now going into her second year teaching at both Larkspur and Sedalia Elementaries as a music educator, and is excited to pass on her knowledge to many new and familiar faces. Ms. Walker currently plays clarinet (and occasionally percussion) with the Highlands Ranch Concert Band. When not doing music, she has a love for movies, art, and reading/writing. She loves making music with others and giving students the opportunity to experience music in an exciting, challenging, and engaging way.